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Tuesday, July 31, 2018

Getting out of my comfort zone

Joining in with a monthly update (organized by Leslie) of what I have done to shake things up a bit as I try things out of my comfort zone. Check out what everyone else has been up to by clicking on the links at the bottom of this post.

I started private swimming lessons in hopes of making lap swimming a exercise habit!

After finally going to my neighborhood pool and trying to swim laps but, after getting mouthfuls of water when gasping for breath, I decided it was time to learn to swim laps effectively. Enter the private swim lessons offered at my town's aquatic center.

Since the last time I took swim lessons I must have been about 10 years old and now I am a month short of 69, I wasn't sure what to expect. Sure I know the basics of 3 or 4 strokes but my technique is sloppy and I really haven't gone lap swimming for about 12 years.

First lesson was at 8:45 am yesterday and I learned a lot including that basically my freestyle stroke was good but has room for improvement and that my legs were rubbery after the lesson LOL.

What did I learn? We focused on freestyle only and I learned that my breathing technique had lots of room for improvement.

o   I need to breathe out through my nose instead of my mouth & in through a "small" mouth rather than fully open
o   2 strokes – breath – 4 strokes – breath for a good breathing pattern to reduce hyperventilating
o   Keep kicking while breathing and let my toes kick out of the water. Also glide a bit with left arm forward while taking (gasping?) a breath
o   Kick a fuller range of motion and be sure to kick equally to using arms

o   Lift my arm up with bent elbow then skim water as come forward instead of doing an arm circle


8 comments:

  1. Swimming is an excellent choice, Juhli. You're smart to take private lessons to get the techniques right. Once you get them right, it makes swimming laps even more enjoyable and effective.

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    1. Thanks. I'm finding there are lots of little changes I can make that will help but relieved that my basic swim strokes are still there. Thank goodness for muscle memory!

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  2. Way to go! At my last dr appt she prescribed learning new things and exercise. I think you should get extra credit for doing both simultaneously! :)

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  3. Good for you! We are never too old to try new things and learning to swim is a gentle on the body. Well done!

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    1. Thanks. I do have to admit that day 3 of the lessons I woke feeling exhausted and with tummy troubles so was a no show that day! So far I've done 3 of 4 and have 4 to go.

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  4. Wow, I am so proud of you. I feel like I have had a review lesson of my swimming lessons in middle school. How I hated having to take them!! I am not a great swimmer but could probably keep from drowning. Maybe.

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    Replies
    1. It has actually turned out to be really helpful and I am swimming more effectively now. I need to practice using what I learned and build my endurance for lap swimming as exercise.

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